Apparatus for drying fabrics



Sept. 14, 1954 G. B. vLONG APPARATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS Filed Jan. 12, 1952 Am. n my B.s e g mw @y Y@ B y 71 5% mv 6 .mo 4 8 2 A .r

Patented Sept. 14, 1954 APPARATUS FOR DRYING FABRICS George B. Long, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1952, Serial No. 266,157

Claims.

This invention relates to domestic appliances l and particularly to apparatuses for drying damp fabrics such as clothes and other articles.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved clothes drying apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement within a clothes dryer cabiinet for condensing moisture out of and removing lint from heated moist air leaving damp fabrics being dried therein.

A further object of my invention is to flow heated moist air leaving damp fabrics in a substantially closed clothes dryer `cabinet through a layer or lm of liquid to cool and condense moisture out of the heated air and to recirculate the cooled drying air over the damp fabrics with.- out flowing drying air into the room in which the cabinet is located.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a clothes dryer cabinet a body of liquid and means for elevating some of the liquid above the body thereof and to spread the elevated liquid out into a sheet or film through which heated moist air leaving damp fabrics flows, to cool the liquid from the nlm thereof and return the cooled liquid to the body of liquid in the cabinet while at the same time collecting in the cabinet water condensed out of the heated moist air.

In carrying out the -preceding object, it is a further and more specific object of my invention to direct the liquid from the lm thereof through a heat exchanger and to cool the liquid passing therethrough by circulating air eXteriorly of the dryer cabinet over the heat exchanger.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a clothes dryer cabinet having my invention embodied therein; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing for illustrating my invention, I have shown in Fig. l thereof a clothes dryer cabinet including a base wall I I, a top sheet metal wall I2, side walls I4, rear wall I6 and a front wall I1 (see Fig. 2). 'I'he front wall of the cabinet has an opening therein, normally closed by a door, affording access to a clothes dryer container or drum within the cabinet as is conventional in the art. These walls II, I2, I4, I6 and I'I are constructed and arranged to ,provide a substantially lclosed cabinet which excludes air from the room in which the cabinet is located. A damp fabric or clothes receiving container or drum comprising a cylindrical sheet metal wal-l I8 having a plurality of perforations I9 therein and a front and back `wall is rotatably mounted within a stationary casing 2| located within the walls of the cabinet. The cylindrical wall I8 of the container or drum is provided with integrally formed and inwardly directed vanes 22 which serve to tumble or agitate damp fabrics when the drum is rotated. Casing 2| is provided with an air inlet opening 23 and an air outlet opening 24. Electric heaters 21 are mounted on arcuate-shaped, in cross section, reflectors or the like 28 which may be carried on a plate removably attached to casing 2l adjacent the air inlet opening 23 thereof. These heaters 2'I extend inwardly of a wall of casing 2I over a substantial portion of the rotatable clothes drum and are connected to a source of electric supply through any suitable or well-known manually set timer or chronometric switch means which also controls operation of a motor to be presently described. The casing 2| may be surrounded with suitable insulating material so as to confine heat generated inthe dryer cabinet to the space within this casing as is conventional in the art.

A substantially cylindrical shaped sheet metal element 3l is preferably insulated from casing 2| and is suitably attached to its lower part to form a downwardly directed continuation thereof. The [bottom of element 3| is bent inwardly as at 32 and upwardly as at 33 to provide a circular trough about the lower 'portion thereof. A spider or web-like bracket 36 is disposed within the sheet metal element 3l and is welded or otherwise suitably secured to its wall. Bracket 36 forms a bearing for supporting a vertical shaft 3'I centrally of element 3l. A fan or blower 38 is mounted on the enlarged portion of shaft 31, above bracket 36, and a bevel gear 39 is secured to the upper end of shaft 31. Another bevel gear 4| is mounted on the end of a shaft 42 of an electric motor 43. Motor 43 is preferably 1ocated outside casing 2l and its shaft 42 projects thereinto for permitting gear 4I to register or mesh with the gear 39 for rotating shaft 3T. Motor 43 has mounted on the other end of its shaft 42 a double pulley 48. One portion of the double pulley 46 carries a belt 4'I which rides over a pulley 48 mounted on a horizontal drive shaft of container or drum I8 for rotating the same. The other portion of double pulley 45 carries a belt 49 which rides over a pulley 5l mounted upon a shaft 52 (see Fig. 2) rotatably supported in a bearing provided on a webbed or spider-like plate 53. Plate 53 is secured to the rear wall it of the dryer cabinet in any suitable or conventional manner. A sleeve 56 extends between the rear and front walls I6 and I1, respectively, of the dryer cabinet-andr provides an: air passage or tunnel 51 through the cabinet which communicates with the air in the room in which the cabinet is located. A grill of screen S may be disposed over the front end of passageor tunnel el. A fan or blower 5S is mounted on shaft 52 for circulating air through the passage or tunnel 51.

The reduced portion tl of vertical fan shaft 31 depends from the supporting spider 3G and has a truncated cone-shaped combinedY pump and flinger member 62 mounted thereon in any suitable or well-known manner. This combined pump and flinger member 62 may be constructed of any suitable or desirable material so that when the same is rotateditwill elevate a liquid, such as water, into which its lower end depends and will fling the elevated water laterally from its upper end in the form of a. horizontal sheet, layer or lm of liquid extending from the truncated member 62 tothe inner wall surface of casing extension element 3|. Walls of a receptacle (it form a large pocket S1 therein and integral walls G8 and 69 thereof form a smaller and shallow pocket 1l therein. Receptacle 6.65 is slidably and removably supported upon an open ended tray-like element 13 having four legs 14 ipivotally attached thereto. The-lower ends of legs. 14 areV pivotallymounted to lugs welded or otherwise. suitably secured to the metal base it of the dryer cabinet. A bracket 1.6, also welded' or otherwise suitably secured to the metal base H', forms a stop for the receptacle 66 as will be presently described'. An opening formed in the one side wall I4 of the dryer cabinet provides access to the receptacle G5 and this opening is normally closed by a hinged door 18. The tray-like element 13 is swung, by virtuey of the pivoted leg arrangement disclosed, from its elevated position shown in full lines in the drawing into a lower position, shown in dot-dash lines in the drawing, whereupon the receptacle S5 may beslid oif element 13v and removed from the dryer cabinet. The pivotal movement of elementA 13 and consequently receptacle 5S permits: the top edge of Wall portions of the receptacle and top edge of upright wall 68 of pocket 1l tov free the lower endof truncated cone membery 62. for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. It is to. be understood that when element 13 and receptacle E6. are in the elevated position, illustrated in the drawing, both have been moved to a positionk beyond the vertical alignment of the upper' and lower pivot points of the ends of legs 14 and thereby rest against the stop bracket 16.

A pipe 8l is secured tothe lower :portion of casing extension 3| andl communicates with the trough formed in the bottom thereof. This pipe 8l extends through a wall of sleeve 5iV and is connected to a header portion 8.2' of a heat exchanger 83 (see Fig. 2) located in the passage or tunnel 51. The lower part of heat exchanger 83 has a header portion S4 provided with an outlet pipe which also extends through a wall of sleeve 56 and has its end 81 terminating above the shallow pocket 1i in receptacle 66. Heat exchanger 83 may be of any suitable or conventional construetion'and preferably comprises a plurality of iinned conduit loops communicating at their upper endsl with header 82 and communicating at their lower ends with header 84 to provide a closed path of flow for liquid therethrough.

lfrior to operating the present appliance small pocket 1I, which may hold approximately a gallon of water, is filled with water and the receptacle 66 is then elevated to the position shown in full lines in the drawing, whereby the lower end of member 62 is submerged in the water contained in pocket 1I. Damp fabrics are placed in the container or drum i8 and thereafter the timer switch of the appliance is manually set for a predetermined timed clothes drying cycle of operation. The switch simultaneously energizes electric heaters 21 and motor 43 to impart heat to the fabrics, to rotate container or drum i8, to drive the fans or blowers 38 and 59 and to also rotate member 62. While the damp fabrics in the rotating drum i8 are being heated, air within the dryer cabinet is circulated by fan 38 into casing 2! by way of the air inlet opening 23 in the upper portion thereof. This air flows into drum i2 through the perforations i9 therein and over or across damp fabrics contained in the drum. The air in passing over the heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom and the heated moist air is circulated downwardly in casing 2| through the spider-like bracket 36. Simultaneously therewith member (52A is elevating water from the body thereof contained in pocket "il of receptacle 66 and is discharging the water at its upper end in the form of a sheet, layer or nlm in the path of flow of the heated moist air. Fan 38 thus blows the heated moist air leaving the damp fabrics through this sheet or film of liquid.l which liquid cools and condenses moisture out of the heated air, and effectively removes lint from the heated moist air which lint is eventually collected in the receptacle t6. Water condensed out of the heated moist air, by its iiow through the film of liquid, may fall directly into the receptacle 66 or it may follow the nlm of liquid into the trough in the lower end of casing 2i. Water from the trough is directed, by pipe 8l, into the heat exchanger S3 and is cooled by room air circulating over the heat exchanger by ope-ration of fan 59 simultaneous with operation of fan 38. The cooled water leaves the exchanger 83 by way of pipe 86 and its end 31 discharges the water into the small shallow water pocket 1| of receptacle 66'. Wall 63 of pocket il maintains a suitable body of water at a predetermined level in pocket 1i to insure immersion therein of the lower end of member 62. Excess water entering the pocket 1|- overilows its wall EES and falls into the larger water collecting `pocket E31 of receptacle G6; The pocket 61 is preferably of a size to have a capacity for water accumulation sufhcient to permit several clothes drying operations of the apparatus without too frequently emptying water therefrom. At the end of a complete clothes drying operation, door 18 is opened and receptacle 65 is pulled toward the opening, normally closed by door 18, whereupon the receptacle 66 may be slid off its support 13 and removed from the cabinet to empty water and lint therefrom. To facilitate the act of lifting and emptying receptacle 66 I may provide the same with a bail handle or the like.

It should, from the foregoing, be apparent that I have provided an improved method of and apparatus for, condensing moisture out of air em.- ployed for circulation over damp fabrics being dried in a clothes dryer cabinet. By flowing heated moist air leaving damp fabrics through a substantially sheet-like layer orlm` of water, a more effective contact of the air with the water is obtained to provide efncient cooling of the air. Also by confining the circulation of drying air to within the dryer cabinet, no moist airis discharged into the room in which the cabinet is located and consequently the humidity in the room is not increased. Cooling of the liquid em ployed to condense water out of heated moist air by air from the room in which the dryer cabinet is located and circulating the cooled liquid for use again eliminates the necessity of extending a .water supply pipe line to the cabinet. Also by providing a removable water collecting. receptacle in the dryer cabinet the cabinet may be installed in basements or utility rooms which are devoid of floor drains.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form,

it is to be understood that other forms might be inet about said container and provided with an f air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, means for circulating air within said cabinet into said casing through sad inlet opening over fabrics in said container and out of said casing through said outlet opening whereby the air in passing over the n heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom, a removable receptacle disposed in said cabinet, said receptacle containing a body of liquid, a rotatable truncated cone-shaped member having its lower end immersed in said body of liquid, said member being adapted upon rotation thereof to elevate liquid from said body thereof in said receptacle and to discharge the elevated liquid in a film in the path of ow of heated moist air leaving the fabrics to cool and condense moisture out of the heated air, a trough for receiving liquid from said film thereof, means for directing liquid from said trough into a heat exchanger, means for circulating air from ex teriorly of said. cabinet over said heat exchanger to cool the liquid therein, and means for returning liquid cooled in said heat exchanger to said body thereof in said receptacle.

2. An apparatus for drying damp fabrics cornprising in combination, a substantially closed cabinet, a container with the said cabinet for receiving fabrics to be dried, means for agitating the fabrics in said container, means for imparting heat to the fabrics, a casing within said cabinet about said container and provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, means for circulating air within said cabinet into said casing through said inlet opening over fabrics in said container and out of said casing through said outlet opening whereby the air in passing over the heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom, a removable receptacle within said cabinet, said receptacle being partitioned into a shallow pocket and a relatively deep pocket, said shallow pocket containing a body of liquid, a rotatable truncated cone-shaped member having its small end immersed in said body of liquid, said member being adapted upon rotation thereof to =lift liquid upwardly from said body thereof in said shallow receptacle pocket and to fling the elevated liquid from its larger ends inthe form of a nlm in the path of flow of heated moist air leaving the fabrics to cool and condense moisture out of the heated air, means for cooling liquid flowing from said film thereof vwith air exteriorly of said cabinet, means for' directing the cooled liquid back intosaid receptacle shallow pocket, and a wall portion of said shallow pocket terminating below the top ofwalls of said receptacle to permit liquid to overflow the shallow pocket and fall into said receptacle deep pocket.

3. An apparatus for drying damp fabrics comprising in combination, a substantially closed cabinet, a container within the said cabinet for receiving fabrics to be dried, means for agitating the fabrics in said container, meansfor imparting heat to the fabrics, a casing within said cabinet about said container and provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, means for circulating air within said cabinet into said casing through said inlet opening over fabrics in said container and out of said casing through said outlet opening whereby the air in passing over the heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom, a receptacle in said cabinet adapted to contain a body of liquid, means for elevating liquid from the body thereof in said receptacle and for generating a film of liquid across the path of iiow of heated moist air leaving the fabrics to cool and condense moisture out of the heated air, means forming a passage extending continuously through said cabinet and communicating with air exteriorly thereof, a heat exchanger disposed in said passage, means for directing liquid from said lm into said heat exchanger, means for directing liquid from said heat exchanger back to the body of liquid in said receptacle, and means for circulating air through said passage over said heat exchanger to cool the liquid therein prior to its flow into said receptacle.

4. An apparatus for drying damp fabrics com-v prising in combination, a substantially closed cabinet, a container within the said cabinet for receiving fabrics to be dried, means for agitating the fabrics in said container, means for imparting heat to the fabrics, a casing within said cabinet about said container and provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, means for circulating air within said cabinet into said casing through said inlet opening over fabrics in said container and out of said casing through said outlet opening whereby the air in passing over the heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom, a removable receptacle within said cabinet, said receptacle being partitioned into a shallow pocket and a relatively deep pocket, said shallow pocket containing a body of liquid, means for elevating liquid from said body thereof and for generating a lm of liquid across the path of flow of heated moist air leaving the fabrics to cool and condense moisture out of the heated air, means for cooling liquid iiowing from said film with air exteriorly of said cabinet, means for directing the cooled liquid back into said receptacle shallow pocket, and a wall portion of said shallow pocket terminating below the top of walls of said receptacle to permit liquid to overflow the shallow pocket and fall into said receptacle deep pocket.

5. An apparatus for drying damp fabrics comprising in combination, a substantially closed cabinet, a container within the said cabinet for receiving fabrics to be dried, means for agitating the fabrics in said container means for imparting 7,. heat to the fabrics, a casing within said cabinet about said container: and provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, means for circulating air within said cabinet into said casing through said inlet opening over' fabrics in said container andV out of saidl casing through said outlet opening` whereby the air in passing over the heated damp fabrics absorbs moisture released therefrom, a receptacle in said cabinet adapted toy contain` a body of liquid, means. for elevating liquid from the bodythereof in said receptacle and for generating a lm' of liquid across the path of flow of heated moist air leaving the fabrics to cool and. condense moisture out of the heated air, means Within said. cabinet forming a passage sealed from air circulated in the closed cabinet, a heat exchanger disposed* insaid passage, means for directing liquid from said film into said heat exchanger, saidpassage having an inletv and an outlet communicating. with. air exteriorly of said cabinet for the flow thereof through said passage and over saidv heat exchanger to cool the. liquid therein, and means for directing liquid cooled in said heat exchanger back to the body of liquid in said receptacle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,381,002 ONeil June '7, 1921 1,442,179 Schneible Jan. 16, 1923 2,062,158 Berlowitz Nov. 24, 1936 2,369,366 ONeill Feb.. 13, 1945 2,451,692 Pugh Oct. 19, 1948 2,453,859 Pugh Nov. 16, 1948 2,527,015 Lhota Oct. 2,4, 1950 2,590,295 Constantine Mar. 25 1952 

